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Backlot Innovators, Events, Honors Top 25 Schools

The Top 25 Film Schools in America A career behind the camera begins at these elite institutions (even as COVID-19 complicates curricula) By Mia Galuppo and Kirsten Chuba

ith both entertainment and higher education deeply AMERICAN FILM From left: Dodge Hall, ; Warner Bros. Building at AFI; UCLA’s Royce Hall. impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown, top film schools across 1 INSTITUTE W the U.S. spent the summer break reassessing established Awards, winning three of its curricula. Many programs are moving classes completely online to After much turnover in the dean’s four eligible categories. Alums comply with local and state health restrictions (student will office, Susan Ruskin took over the and industry professionals note mostly be shot on cellphones and star family members and room- reins of the famed conservatory that the grad-student-focused mates). Colleges, universities and conservatories alike are filling in the just in time for The American conservatory guarantees stu- gaps in their promised programs with Zoom lectures from top talents Film Institute’s 50th anniversary dents the opportunity to make like and , and are hoping to hold makeup physical and a major year of their own films, with plenty of production classes over the spring and summer breaks in 2021, assum- awards and endow- support. Alum Max Barbakow, ing the world returns to relative normality by then. ments. She replaces whose Sundance feature Palm But no matter how they are handling the pandemic, all of The Richard Gladstein, Springs sold to / for a Reporter’s top film programs are committed to ensuring Ruskin who stepped in record-setting sum in Park City, their graduates will be ready for a career in Hollywood — whatever it after Jan Schuette says the conservatory excels at may look like. Whether it’s adding new virtual and augmented reality left in 2016. The school swept “empowering young filmmakers labs (like the University of Los Angeles), or offering more the narrative category at last to make stuff,” adding that “the courses in Black film theory (USC, Chapman, CalArts and UT Austin year’s Student , opportunity to dive in and make are among the schools to do so), these programs aim to evolve with the picking up the gold, silver and three substantial short films in industry and educate the storytellers and executives who will shape the bronze honors, and had a simi- my first year was undoubtedly future of entertainment — even if that future is currently on hold. lar showing at the DGA Student the boon of the AFI experience.” CAMERAS, PEOPLE: ADOBE COLUMBIA, STOCK (6). AFI: COURTESY OF SUBJECT. UCLA: TED SOQUI/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES. RUSKIN: TOMMASO BODDI/GETTY IMAGES.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 81 AUGUST 19, 2020 Backlot alum Bonnie Chi is the inaugu- 15 TOP INTERNATIONAL FILM SCHOOLS HOCHSCHULE FÜR FILM alongside top directors NATIONAL FILM AND — are going ahead 18-month and two-year Top 25 Film ral holder — and the school’s AND FERNSEHEN such as Michael Haneke TELEVISION SCHOOL under new regulations bachelor’s programs. Schools From a Quarantine Stories film competition to on-set pod teams, Germany has not yet and . The U.K.’s most famous for hygienic conditions. Peter Stark producing program colleges around the globe have quickly adapted to the COVID-19 crisis reopened its universi- film and TV college — The university is notori- SAM SPIEGEL FILM AND celebrated its 40th anniversary ties for regular classes, LODZ whose alumni range from ously selective. Besides TELEVISION SCHOOL with past grads who include UTA AUSTRALIAN FILM, this spring — including courses across all film but the country’s No. 1 Poland has weathered Oscar-winning industry fluency in Danish, all The Jerusalem school Its strong alumni network co-president David Kramer. “Rely TELEVISION AND virtual auditions for cov- disciplines for anyone film school — whose the COVID-19 crisis - veterans such as Roger applicants must pass an briefly went online-only includes veteran helmer Mimi on the talent and insights of your RADIO SCHOOL eted spots in the acting fluent in Italian — used alumni include the ter than most and has Deakins to emerging entrance test includ- during the first wave of This Sydney-based department — because the COVID-19 lockdown likes of , begun reopening public stars like 1917 scribe ing practical exercises COVID-19 in March and Leder and Midsommar director peers, the people you trust and Wim Wenders school has turned out of the pandemic. But to start a program of dis- Roland Emmerich and institutions, including Krysty Wilson-Cairns and interviews before April, but new director Ari Aster, and, thanks to a $3 mil- respect,” says Nahnatchka Khan, an array of Oscar win- thanks to China’s highly tance learning for all its Dark director Baran schools and universities, — expanded its offerings being admitted. Dana Blankstein-Cohen lion gift from trustee emeritus the creative force behind Fresh ners — writer-director effective domestic courses, which it claims bo Odar — has moved though the government in 2020 with the addi- was able to restart Lawrence Herbert, the school Off the Boat and Always Be My (The containment of the virus, has enhanced the level of its courses online and has said it will shut tion of both casting and RTA SCHOOL OF MEDIA AT classes and finish the plans to boost alums with a new Maybe, on the les- Piano), David White classes will be held in teacher-pupil interaction. is offering a combina- things down again if postproduction supervi- RYERSON UNIVERSITY semester as normal. The (sound editing for Mad person this fall. tion of digital and infections spike. sion courses. During the Amid the pandemic, school even turned lock- physical Alumni Center and a sons she learned at Max: Fury Road) and ECAM in-person instruction. COVID-19 lockdown, the Toronto’s Ryerson has down to its advantage digital portal, called AFI Backlot, SCA. “Keep in close Margaret Sixel (editing CENTRO DE CAPACITACIÓN While 2020 might not LONDON FILM SCHOOL school offered almost embraced a hybrid online with a Quarantine Stories designed to expand the center’s contact with them, Mad Max: Fury Road). As CINEMATOGRÁFICA have been the great- LA FÉMIS The central London daily Zoom master and in-person format, competition that saw global reach to alumni. Even by Khan keep it real, and you of August, most student All classes have shifted est year for the Madrid The French state film school this year saw its classes with the likes of with social distancing winners receive grants oft-inflated film school stan- will all lift each other activity had returned online at Mexico’s school to celebrate its school was forced to alumni land eight BAFTA Judd Apatow, Elisabeth and pod teams during to turn their shut-in tales to campus, but the premiere film school, 25th anniversary, it did close its Paris doors in TV Craft Award nomina- , location shoots. into short films. dards, AFI offers an expensive up and hit new heights together.” Moss Steve McQueen university was assess- founded in 1975. As part launch three master’s early March during the tions (including for The and . education but hopes to continue As Hollywood tries to uproot ing health and safety of its virtual curriculum, degree programs COVID-19 lockdown. End of the F***ing World SAE INSTITUTE VANCOUVER FILM SCHOOL to offset some tuition and pro- entrenched systems of racism conditions on a weekly the school is uploading (executive produc- But its 11 departments showrunner Jonathan NATIONAL FILM SCHOOL Swiss universities have Since the pandemic, VFS duction costs with a new $15,000 and sexism, the school has made basis in tandem with the films on the Mexican tion, postproduction adapted their training, Entwistle). Adjusting to OF DENMARK returned to semi-normal- industry programs have Bridges/Larson Production a new class a requirement for all Australian government. Film Institute’s streaming coordination and TV with numerous online the lockdown, it moved One of the first coun- ity with reduced class gone online. Students platform as well as its script writing). During the talks from various cin- its 66 staff off site Award and the T.R. Paul Family students: Visions of Diversity in tries to emerge from sizes, social distanc- working remotely will BEIJING FILM ACADEMY own social media chan- coronavirus crisis, ECAM ematographers, sound and shifted to remote lockdown, Denmark ing and new hygiene return to in-person Foundation Scholarship, and the Cinematic Arts, which looks The incoming 2020 nels, with many new titles shifted its theoretical engineers and editors, learning, brought its has returned to near regulations in place. courses as soon as has seen an overall increase in at cinema and television history students at the Beijing accessible for free. classes online and, once M.A. cur- normality, and classes Zurich’s SAE — part of government safety gifts to its general scholarship through the lenses of equality Film Academy, China’s the lockdown was lifted, From top: A production riculum forward to avoid at its acclaimed national a network of institutes guidelines permit it. fund, including installments and inclusion. most elite moviemaking CENTRO SPERIMENTALE adapted its facilities so studio at the Australian Film, disruption and, ahead of film school —whose that spans 26 coun- During the lockdown, VFS institution, were required DI CINEMATOGRAFIA students could complete Television and Radio School; students’ return to class, alumni include Susanne tries — will again offer has delivered equipment from Bob Daly, Alan Horn and TUITION $59,260 undergraduate; a sound editing suite at to submit to online Italy’s National School their shoots and practical Germany’s Hochschule für refitted its premises to Bier, Lars von Trier and instruction in the tech to student homes to allow David Geffen. $39,900 grad admissions interviews of Cinema — offering exercises in safety. Film and Fernsehen. support social distancing. Thomas Vinterberg side of filmmaking, with remote production. TUITION $63,575 to $65,800 grad ALUMNI , ALUMNI , Ari Aster, , Shonda Rhimes Julie Dash USC 3 new york 2 los angeles After an online spring Beyond”) and bulked up on its with a new commitment to diver- UCLA body (60 percent) and faculty and how to similarly drill down While most film schools semester of Zoom calls with state-of-the-art equipment with sity, inclusion and safe-space 5 los angeles (65 percent) being nonwhite. to the theme of any story,” says focus on the creative and tech- auteurs like Taika Waititi and new Alexa Mini cameras. Spike initiatives, focusing on the ways Amid the box office While the new school year begins Simien, who adds: “We eventu- nical side of filmmaking, few , New York Lee, who is a professor at the in which racism, privilege and shutdown, UCLA alum Gina under the leadership of interim ally did scene work, but only after cater to students looking to University students will partially school, also established a produc- inequity impact its community Prince-Bythewood entertained dean Brian Kite, UCLA is looking understanding that what we were become execs or producers. USC’s return to campus this fall with tion fund that gives annual grants through facilitated discussion the self-isolating masses with to fill its top administrative spot, actually learning was how to renowned School of Cinematic a hybrid approach, and inter- to student filmmakers, and the workshops. With programs for her feature The Old Guard, after Schwartz stepped down as make creative choices driven by Arts, which encompasses roughly national and L.A. students will newly launched Black Family -directing, cre- which was viewed by 72 mil- dean a year ago. what we felt the story was ulti- 1,000 undergraduates and 700 have the option to study at one Film Prize awards $150,000 to ative producing and a growing lion subscribers in its first four TUITION $27,712 undergrad, in-state; mately about.” grads, focuses on both disci- of its global network of cam- grad students whose film projects emphasis on the production weeks, according to the streamer. $57,466 undergrad, out-of-state; TUITION $56,830 undergrad; plines, with a track record to puses. In addition to welcoming exemplify innovation in story, side, Columbia has been the At 19, the filmmaker was at first $17,486 grad, in-state; $44,240 to $56,830 grad prove it. SCA boasts both Marvel Oscar-winning producer Donna style and tone. Says Watchmen starting ground for star alumni rejected from the school but $32,588 grad, out-of-state ALUMNI Matt and Ross Duffer movie director and Gigliotti (Shakespeare in Love) producer Tiffany Chung: “My like wrote a letter to its then-head, ALUMNI Frank Marshall, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos delivered stranger things, head of Kevin and nominated sound mixer years at NYU have accompa- chief creative officer and Frozen Teri Schwartz. “Two days later, Ava DuVernay, Marielle Heller the keynote address at Carlos López Estrada blindspotting Chapman University in 2015. Feige as alums. In the last school Tod Maitland (Joker) to its gradu- nied me beyond graduation as I writer-director Jennifer Lee, she called me and told me she year, SCA established the John ate school faculty, its undergrad continue to grow and be inspired who says she chose the school read my letter and I was in,” says CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY and the nonprofit College Access LOYOLA MARYMOUNT H. Mitchell Endowment for program has added classes in by my peers, both personally and “because it takes a holistic Prince-Bythewood. “She literally 6 orange, california Partnership. Faculty additions 7 UNIVERSITY the Business of Entertainment storytelling with a modern professionally, in the collabora- approach — you write, direct, changed the trajectory of my life.” Actively recruit- include dean Stephen Galloway los angeles chair — William Morris agency twist (“Aristotle to Beyoncé and tive world of storytelling.” edit, act and produce before The school will educate the next ing students from a variety of (former THR executive editor), As construction continues on its TUITION $60,282 undergrad; specializing. I gained skills to generation of Prince-Bythewoods socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as nine Black female Howard B. Fitzpatrick Pavilion, $65,926 grad complete every script I could with the new Forever Sunny Chapman’s Dodge College of professors who will teach across which will house teaching spaces, ALUMNI , imagine and learned the power of Directing Scholarship, which Film and Media Arts is launch- the school’s curriculum, which an AR/VR area and a state-of- THE THR RANKINGS: HOW IT’S DONE Damon Lindelof, Nia DaCosta rewriting. In directing, emotion provides the female recipient with ing a scholarship fund that will includes such new offerings as the-art theater, LMU also has First the magazine consults with a variety of educators, industry profes- director, and character drove every shot support for four years to cover provide up to 10 full scholarships Black Cinema and Fake News. formally created five special- sionals, grads, current students and other experts to hear what insiders are and frame; in producing, I found tuition and fees, as well as up to per year for underrepresented Justin Simien () izations in its MFA in film and saying. Then a team of reporters reaches out to campuses across the country COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY the power of collaboration — it $50,000 to cover production costs young men and women from the says an influential course he television program: creative to discover what’s new since last year’s rankings. All that reporting is then new york truly was everything I dreamt of on the recipient’s thesis film. The local community. Additionally, took as a student was Acting producing, directing fiction, triangulated with other factors — student awards, alumni achievement, killer 4 (or not) facilities — to determine the final rankings. In the interest of fairness, The Ivy League MFA and more.” Department of Film, Television a mentorship program is set to for Non-Actors. “[Instructor] directing nonfiction, cinematog- THR did not weigh how the schools on this list are adapting curricula to the program, which will start this TUITION $62,912 grad and Digital Media also boasts launch in 2021 that will see the Joel [Moffett] spent the first few raphy and editing (plans to launch COVID-19 crisis because, at time of publication, the situation remains fluid. fall with a mix of online and in- ALUMNI , diversity among its ranks, with film school partner with L.A. classes teaching us why Star Wars a new International Documentary person classes, will also return Simon Kinberg, James Mangold the majority of both the student and Orange County high schools was actually about self-doubt minor based in Germany were AUSTRALIAN, HOCHSCHULE: COURTESY OF SUBJECT. SARANDOS: COURTESY OF CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY. KHAN: KEVIN WINTER/GETTY IMAGES.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 82 AUGUST 19, 2020 THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 83 AUGUST 19, 2020 Backlot

and alum Ann Telnaes to teach ALUMNI Jay Leno, we’re striving for excellence.” TUITION $54,270 undergrad; view,” says Snyder, who is also Top 25 Film Commentary Through Cartoons. Richard LaGravenese, Adele Lim TUITION $27,142 tuition only $30,294 grad a board of trustees member, Schools TUITION $52,850 undergrad; , crazy rich asians ALUMNI Lena Waithe, ALUMNI Dan Silver disney+, of his BFA production classes. $52,850 grad George Tillman Jr., Danny Zuker, Mike Lasker “The most important lesson I ALUMNI Tim Burton, , UNIVERSITY OF Christian Sprenge vfx supervisor learned was to value your own put on hold, however). Classes Kirby Dick the hunting ground 10 NORTH CAROLINA cinematographer, atlanta unique perspective.” are scheduled to return entirely SCHOOL OF THE ARTS TUITION $45,776 undergrad; online this fall, including a EMERSON COLLEGE winston-salem BOSTON UNIVERSITY 17 new york $48,380 grad cross-disciplinary elective pair- 9 boston The alma mater of Danny McBride, 15 boston At the Roy H. Park School ALUMNI Don Burgess ing animation students with Nestled in picturesque David Gordon Green and Jody Hill This East Coast institu- of Communications, student- cinematographer, aquaman, screenwriting students and Boston’s Back Bay, the liberal arts — who have collaborated on hits tion has trained Hollywood’s old run production company Park Ericson Core director, togo, English majors to encourage college has a globe-spanning like Vice Principals and Eastbound guard, like Jim Gianopulos, as Productions has been delivering Tarsem Singh director, the fall side-by-side development of story footprint with the one-year-old & Down — UNCSA is a small well as creatives shaking up the client-driven materials like local ideas. Plus, with nine new full- Paris College of Art film program creative and performing arts con- industry, like Uncut Gems helm- TV ads and PSAs for a half- SAN FRANCISCO STATE time faculty hires (including four as well as the well-established servatory that alum Vera Herbert, ers Josh and Benny Safdie. While decade, allowing students to put 19 san francisco people of color), the expansion 107,000-square-foot L.A. out- a co-executive producer on This the school is situated far from their production and story skills SF State was founded under new dean Peggy Rajski post on Sunset Boulevard. The Is Us, says “emulates a Hollywood Kevin Shivers, who also cites Construction continues on LMU’s entertainment hubs, it re-creates to work. Newer additions at the- in the ’60s with an emphasis on Howard B. Fitzpatrick Pavilion, which will continues. Says , Beantown campus, which serves in producing stu- the recent hires of Ileana Sosa, house teaching spaces, an AR/VR area the business of content creation school include an MBA program political activism and experi- Oscar-winning writer of L.A. most of the 1,700 undergrad dent films, and from my first year Alex Rivera, Sarah Seulki Oh and and a state-of-the-art theater. on campus with courses like in Entertainment and Media mental filmmaking, an ethos Confidential: “I learned how to and grad visual and media arts I learned how to pitch, develop, Adrien Sebro as new additions Hothouse Productions, a student- Management and a collaboration that can be seen in its contem- write at LMU — first of all, by students, features an Emerging take notes, and work with both my “to a talented and diverse faculty for its exclusive MFA in documen- run production banner that with Ithaca’s business school, as porary coursework, with classes having it expected of me, and sec- Media Lab that includes AR and peers and the faculty to bring a to create an empowering and tary film and video production shoots PSAs and short documen- well as West African filmmaker like Experimental Documentary. ondly, by having instructors with VR suites as well as 3D modeling project to fruition — and experi- creative experience.” program, which is capped at eight taries for local nonprofits and TV Idrissou Mora-Kpai joining The program, which has been real industry writing experience. and animation. On the diversity ence all the ups and downs that TUITION $10,946 undergrad, in-state; students annually. In their second stations. The school also boasts the faculty. Says One Day at a Time under the direction of noted film It was a film school that took the front, the program has a nearly come with that.” With training in $38,748 undergrad, out-of-state; year of the program, students pro- a revamped MFA in screenwrit- writer and executive producer scholar Celine Parreñas Shimizu mystery out of film and replaced 50-50 male-female student ratio, drama, film, dance, music, design $9,996 to $10,882 grad, in-state; duce a 15- to 20-minute thesis film ing, which will see students take a Mike Royce: “Ithaca taught me for a year, outlines an 18-point it with the practical, the craft. with 24.2 percent of the Visual & and production, and new offerings $18,816 to $20,310 grad, out-of-state on a pressing social issue, some fourth semester in Los Angeles. that, while it was fine to idolize statement of values surrounding That’s how I learned.” Media Arts student body being of motion-hand-face-capture, ALUMNI , of which have gone on to screen TUITION $56,854 undergrad; Spielberg, it was even better to “diversity, equity and inclusion” TUITION $52,553 undergrad; persons of color (3.5 percent are immersive VFX entertainment Renée Zellweger, at Sundance, SXSW and Tribeca. $57,686 grad graduate knowing how to be me.” (point 18 reads: “Down with $20,775 to $33,240 grad Black), according to and effects technologies, the Mark and Jay Duplass The school is on track to return for ALUMNI Jennifer Getzinger TUITION $46,610 undergrad; censorship!”). The school recently ALUMNI fall 2019 data. In 2018, school, which plans to return with some in-person classes this year director, westworld, starting at $10,500 grad named endowed chairs in both the hunger games, Jim Toth head Emerson announced hybrid classes, is on the cutting WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY and, after voicing support for the Bonnie Hammer, Bonnie Arnold ALUMNI David Boreanaz, African American Cinema and of content acquisitions at quibi, the edge of technology, launching an 12 middletown, connecticut Black Lives Matter movement, says Liz Tigelaar showrunner, Social Justice Fiction Filmmaking Patricia Whitcher Abdy Scholarship Fund, immersive storytelling residency In addition to its new actionable plans for justice and SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY little fires everywhere — Artel Great and Mayuran captain marvel producer which provides a in its technology lab last fall. Last 16,000-square-foot expansion of equality issues are forthcoming. 16 syracuse, new york Tiruchelvam, respectively. four-year scholarship to students year also marked UNCSA’s first its Center for , the TUITION $55,473 undergrad; After launching a ARTCENTER TUITION $7,440 undergrad; CALARTS from underrepresented and freshman filmmaking school past year saw the launch of the $54,315 grad new BFA film curriculum last 18 COLLEGE OF DESIGN $8,704 grad 8 valencia, california underserved backgrounds. The class that was predominantly Wesleyan Documentary Project, ALUMNI Lisa Joy westworld year offering hands-on experi- pasadena ALUMNI Annette Bening, As expected with a first recipient,Worlanyo Mensah female, with a focus on creating a an initiative to teach, support co-creator, Sarah Naftalis writer, ence starting freshman year, This Pasadena-based program, , school that was founded by Walt (2023), met Lear at his home in pipeline of women into the enter- and produce nonfiction film and fx’s what we do in the shadows, Syracuse’s College of Visual and which has a three-track focus on Disney, CalArts leads in anima- Los Angeles in September. Faculty tainment industry. video to students graduating into Ramona Diaz imelda Performing Arts has added essay directing, editing and cinema- FLORIDA STATE tion education. Since the creation comprises 11 percent persons of TUITION $6,497 undergrad, in-state; an industry that is experiencing film, script analysis and sci-fi tography, is known for educating 20 UNIVERSITY of the best animated feature color, with 4 percent being Black $23,040 undergrad, out-of-state; a nonfiction boom. Doc producer COLUMBIA COLLEGE courses, along with a new film blockbuster helmers like Zach tallahassee, florida Oscar category in 2001, 12 of the (numbers are expected to increase $9,169 grad, in-state; $23,203 grad, Sadia Shepard (The September 14 history survey class that will Snyder and , but the Amid the renewed call for 19 winning films were directed for the 2020 academic year but out-of-state Issue) will be joining the faculty Columbia College will see take an anti-sexist, anti-racist film school offers more than just diversity and Black representa- by CalArts alums. Grad Bruce are not complete by press time). ALUMNI directors Brett Haley hearts this fall, while recent classes changes to its faculty with film- and international approach to technical wizardry by taking tion, Florida State established a Wayne Smith co-directed the Perhaps the biggest draw for beat loud, Jeff Nichols loving included Oscilloscope co-founder maker Thelma Vickroy starting as cinema history from the 1960s to advantage of ArtCenter’s robust Diverse Voices in Cinema grant recent Oscar-winning short Hair prospective students is the active David Laub teaching “The Art and a new chair and cinematographer today. With classes planned for advertising and design programs. this year for underrepresented Love; the school is now investing Emerson-Hollywood network. UNIVERSITY OF Business of Contemporary Film” Robert Edgecomb joining as an in-person and hybrid instruction, A cross-curriculum class, Media film school alumni who seek to in new classes about animation “I’ve hired Emerson interns at 11 austin and New York Times critic A.O. assistant professor of photogra- its film program, the Newhouse Maker’s Lab, sees students cre- overcome injustice through cine- and identity like Afro-Centric every job I’ve ever been at,” says Between its facilities Scott tackling Italian Cinema. phy. The school will also launch School (Syracuse divides up ate a semester-long advertising matic storytelling. It will include Character Design in its Character MGM film group president Pam (including a motion-capture TUITION $69,704 to its new BA in Film and Television performing arts and film disci- agency, taking a note from alum a $10,000 production grant, a full Animation Program. Looking Abdy. “I’m just a real advocate for studio and one of the largest $71,764 undergrad program — which encourages plines), will continue to expand Bay, who got his start directing production equipment package, outside the scope of traditional the school.” greenscreens outside Hollywood), ALUMNI Joss Whedon, cross-pollination between the its offerings in TV, radio, podcast- commercials before graduating to access to postproduction facili- animation, CalArts has also TUITION $50,240 undergrad; its TV writers room workshop Matthew Weiner, two mediums — while offer- ing, VFX, production design and giant robots. “It was those courses ties, distribution consultation brought on Pulitzer winner $1,296 grad, per credit class (which culminates in a Lin-Manuel Miranda ing online, face-to-face and entrepreneurship with an empha- that enabled me to develop my and a social media campaign. student-written series shopped to hybrid classes, with assignments sis on diversity, inclusion and own personal style and point of The university has also set up an major networks) and an advanced STANFORD UNIVERSITY redesigned to incorporate social equity. Pixar president Jim Morris producing class taught by alum 13 palo alto, california distancing, smaller crews and credits the animation courses he Matthew McConaughey, UT has While the Palo Alto uni- remote production. Says alum took at Syracuse for setting him taken innovative approaches to versity offers an expanding film Carl Seaton (Batwoman, Chicago on his path: “The technology then film education. “RTF (Radio- and media studies major — with PD): “I constantly run into people was stone age compared to what Television-Film) helped me find lessons on film language, genre, in different places who go, ‘I went we do at Pixar now, but the soul my voice,” says WME partner video production and visual and to Columbia,’ and it’s a constant of creating the illusion of life has and Advisory Council member narrative structures — it is known thread. We are here to work, never changed.”

Most years, students at DePaul learn while working at the Cinespace Chicago production facility. Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications DEPAUL: COURTESY OF SUBJECT. LMU: CORAL OF SUBJECT. VON ZUMWALT/COURTESY SYRACUSE: JOHN GREIM/LIGHTROCKET VIA GETTY IMAGES. FILM, STUDENTS, CLAPBOARD: ADOBE STOCK. RANDY ABDY: SHROPSHIRE/GETTY IMAGES.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 85 AUGUST 19, 2020 Backlot program in conjunction with the 10 ALTERNATIVES IN N.Y. AND L.A. Top 25 Film famed Second City theater, which Schools If the elite schools are off-limits, these robust programs boasts a who’s who of comedy offer plenty of hands-on training in a range of disciplines alums, including Dan Aykroyd, Tina Fey, and Stephen NEW YORK Colbert CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK Equality Scholarship to support . And for the practical Founded in 1941 as the first film program in the U.S., City College first-year students of color, as production curriculum, DePaul offers a BFA in film and video (the only public NYC institution to well as faculty and staff work- students learn while working on do so) as well as MFA tracks in fiction and documentary, where shop initiatives and annual soundstages at Cinespace Chicago, students direct their own thesis projects and serve as cinematog- diversity events. Though classes a busy production facility that has rapher, editor or producer on another thesis production. are set to resume fully in per- played host to everything from son this fall, FSU will introduce Dylan McDermott as visiting film- Facilities at Cal State Northridge include film Dick Wolf’s Chicago franchise to and television soundstages, postproduction With plans to return for hybrid classes at its New York, L.A. and a Real Solutions for Real-Time makers, which have long been and mixing suites, a new media lab, and a digital FX’s Fargo and Fox’s Empire. “We South Beach Miami campuses, NYFA continues its hands-on Filmmaking curriculum that part of the program. “Two big visual effects and animation suite. were encouraged to make things approach in which first-year students write, direct, shoot and edit teaches students how to navi- experiences were getting to be in as often as possible (especially eight short films each and work with a crew of 28 more. gate virtual filmmaking with the edit room with SAVANNAH COLLEGE outside of class), and that’s exactly THE NEW SCHOOL a focus on the innovative tech- and taking a lighting workshop 23 OF ART & DESIGN what I did,” says alum Daniel Willis, The school, which has moved all its fall courses online, offers a film nology for previsualization of with [Inception cinematographer] savannah, georgia director on Grey’s Anatomy and The production minor that gives hands-on lessons in how to create a animated and live-action films. ,” says alum Jason While SCAD’s signature event, the Black List. “When I left DePaul, I short film through planning, production and editing, and teaches “At the end of the day, it’s the Letkiewicz, who is the senior annual Savannah Film Festival — had material that I could show, and use of cameras, film equipment, recording techniques and post- production software. stories that matter, and FSU is writer and producer on this with its big-name attendees and those work samples have opened

empowering filmmakers to tell year’s Emmys broadcast. “Herzog awards circuit influence — is on many doors for me over the years.” PACE UNIVERSITY the stories they want to tell,” changed the way I think about hiatus because of the pandemic, TUITION $40,511 undergrad; $20,760 Pace’s undergraduate film program focuses on cinema in the says Race to Witch Mountain storytelling, and Wally opened the school will continue (largely to $31,140 grad digital era, with courses — which will be a mix of online, in-person writer Matt Lopez of his experi- my eyes to so many new possibili- online) with a new curriculum, led ALUMNI Kevin McGrail producer, and hybrid this fall — on cinematography, multiplatform editing and lighting for HD. ence at the college, which counts ties on set.” by its Collaborative Experiences in LeBron James’ the shop,

Moonlight helmer TUITION $45,130 undergrad the School of Entertainment Arts Art O’Leary editor, deadlist catch, PRATT INSTITUTE as its star pupil. ALUMNI editor Andrew Halley class, where students from dif- Brian Lannin cinematographer, The past year has seen Pratt continue to expand, with growing TUITION $7,328 undergrad, in-state; ferent film specializations work high maintenance VR coursework, serialized storytelling offerings and a new class $24,517 undergrad, out-of-state; RHODE ISLAND together start-to-finish on a piece centered on the work of Killer of Sheep director Charles Burnett (culminating in a Q&A with the filmmaker). $22,619 grad, in-state; $51,032 grad, 22 SCHOOL OF DESIGN of content. “The time I spent in CAL STATE out-of-state providence UNIVERSITY Savannah fully immersed in a cre- 25 LOS ANGELES ALUMNI Stephen Broussard marvel As one of the premier fine art ative community and constantly NORTHRIDGE CAL STATE LOS ANGELES studios vp production and development, schools in the country, this making stuff was probably the los angeles Part of the state’s expansive public university system, Cal State James Laxton cinematographer, Providence mainstay boasts most valuable experience in my This state school offers a cost- L.A. recently offered a 15-week educational program, Women Making Film, a collaboration between the school and Canon, if beale street could talk, life,” says producer Jett Steiger an avant-garde student body effective education that has the with special support from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts Lauren Miller Rogen director, spanning all mediums (think (Super Dark Times). “Filmmaking added value of being Los Angeles- and Sciences. like father David Byrne, who attended in the is a team sport, and the only way adjacent. And thanks to a grant early ’70s). The 2019-20 stu- you can really learn how to do it is from the Hollywood Foreign Press RINGLING COLLEGE OF dent body reflects the college’s to find a group of people you trust Association, the department of A growing alumni network includes Kyle Newacheck, who was I am a behind one of the Netflix’s most popular films of 2019, Adam ART & DESIGN commitment to diversity, with and go make something — SCAD cinema and television is finish- 21 Sandler’s Murder Mystery, and Hannah Lux Davis, the go-to sarasota, florida 33 percent domestic students of gave me that opportunity over ing a three-year cycle of updating for Ariana Grande. Accounting for Hollywood’s ever- color, including 5 percent Black and over again.” Those opportuni- production facilities, which SCAD evolving definition (the 37 percent international ties will be expanded more than includes new camera, sound and of content, Ringling students are not broken out by ever this year after SCAD recently lighting equipment. Curriculum The film studies program in Malibu offers majors and minors, as well as an MFA in Writing for Screen and Television. An has introduced race). Likewise, 19 percent of the created 15 endowed scholar- additions include a dedicated extensive film theory catalog includes several classes on the GRAD a new emphasis domestic faculty is of color, while ships for incoming and current documentary production pro- intersection of religion and media (the school is affiliated with Smith under its BFA film 5 percent is Black (7 percent hail Black students. gram, while extracurricular adds the Church of Christ). program: Branded from abroad). Although many TUITION $37,575 undergrad; include a gallery devoted to the Entertainment. The curricu- colleges are forgoing face-to-face $38,475 grad art of film posters, an upgraded HUSSIAN COLLEGE LOS ANGELES DeRon Horton Formerly known as Studio School, Hussian offers BFA programs lum will focus on creating more instruction due to COVID-19, ALUMNI DeRon Horton actor, script library and a public screen- in film and digital content, as well as commercial dance, acting and B.F.A., performing arts, 2015 advertorial content as a way RISD plans to keep its upcom- dear white people, Steven Walker, ing series that centers on 21st contemporary musical theater and film. to provide a faster track to the ing core studio and shop-based Q. Manning and Peter Yoder century LGBTQ films and rock ’n’ DeRon shines on the small director’s chair than the tradi- courses in person with expanded founders of digital product design roll fare. screen in American Vandal, tional film or television career spaces to ensure safe social agency rocksauce studios TUITION $7,012 undergrad; Both certificate and associate’s degree programs are offered at the public community college, which can provide an inexpensive path. Last year, the Florida school distancing (courses that don’t $8,446 grad American Horror Story: 1984, (in-state tuition is $1,220) jumping-off point for specific entertain- finished construction on its require hands-on technique will DEPAUL UNIVERSITY ALUMNI Glenn S. Gainor head of ment vocations like editing and cinematography. — M.G. AND K.C. and Dear White People. 36,000-square-foot Studio Labs be offered remotely or in a hybrid 24 chicago physical production at screen gems, complex, which includes five version). That’s a huge plus for the While it’s not in L.A. or Ami Cohen executive director Step into the spotlight. soundstages, multiple edit suites, program, whose graduates have NYC, DePaul’s Chicago campus of television at , dubbing and Foley stages, and a excelled in the field of animation offers entry into another of the John Hampian vp physical scad.edu/film-tv color-correct theater, along with in recent years. nation’s entertainment hubs: If production at lucasfilm traditional classrooms. And with TUITION $53,820 undergrad screenwriting and production the complex comes the likes of ALUMNI , students want to get serious about Tatiana Siegel contributed Beau Bridges, and Seth MacFarlane, Martha Coolidge comedy, the school offers a degree to this report.

New York Film Academy CSUN: COURTESY OF SUBJECT. ACADEMY: GLENSTAR/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO. CAMERA, ADOBE STUDENT: STOCK. SMITH: STEVE GRANITZ/WIREIMAGE. film.fsu.edu THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 86 AUGUST 19, 2020

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